Inductees

Brian Ash had never heard of Blair Oaks High School prior to becoming baseball head coach in 2005. But it didn’t take long for the rest of the Missouri high school baseball community to become familiar with the Falcons.

In 2005, Ash began to lay the foundation for success, leading Blair Oaks to a 15-7 record. During the first season, Ash changed just about everything regarding how the Blair Oaks program operated. From preseason workouts to morning conditioning, Ash instituted a highly structured, in-season practice regimen focusing on overall fundamentals. The progress was slow, but eventually the work paid off on the field.

“We started the season 3-6, but eventually we went on to win 12 straight games at one point,” Ash said. “Players struggled a bit in the beginning but once they caught on, we found success. We lost in the district semifinals to a talented New Bloomfield team. That set the foundation for us moving forward to 2006.”

Over the course of the next two seasons (2006, 2007), Blair Oaks went a combined 43-2, capturing the Class 2 state championship each year. The teams, though equally successful, were wildly different. One was a surprise story, the other a juggernaut that couldn’t be stopped.

Those successes are why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted the Blair Oaks 2006 & 2007 State Championship Baseball Teams with the Class of 2022.

The Falcons opened 2006 with a 5-0 record.

“But then we got manhandled by Fatima in the sixth game and lost, 16-3,” Ash said. “They dominated us in every facet of the game. That loss helped us reset and refocus on doing the little things that made us successful.”

While that setback could have derailed the Falcons’ season, Blair Oaks instead bounced back and won nine of the following 10 regular-season games before sweeping through the postseason en route to the program’s first state title with a 4-2 victory against South Pemiscot.

Jared Versules, Travis Henke, and his brother, Kyle, all went on to be named 2006 First Team All-State.

The 2007 season presented a different set of challenges. With a giant bullseye squarely in the middle of their backs, Blair Oaks was the preseason No. 1-ranked team. Instead of hiding behind that lofty ranking, Ash challenged his now veteran squad.

“I tried to strengthen the schedule as much as I could,” Ash said. “And the guys responded. It seemed like we were always able to come up with the big hit. We came close to losing a game to Helias Catholic, but aside from that, we didn’t really have any hiccups until the state title game.”

Facing Houston in the championship game, the Falcons bolted to a big lead and had to rally late to get the victory.

“Travis Henke pitched in the semifinals and the rules allowed us to pitch him for an additional three innings in the championship game,” Ash explains. “We go up 8-3, so I pull our starting pitcher and Travis comes in. We’re all thinking the game is in hand with him on the mound.”

Houston had other ideas, however, scoring seven unanswered runs and taking a 10-8 lead into the seventh inning.

But as they had all year, the Falcons came up big in the clutch, scoring five runs for a 13-10 victory and their second straight state championship.

Travis Henke and Justin Eiken were named First Team All-State.

Ash left Blair Oaks following the 2009 season and has since won state titles at Jefferson City and South Boone, becoming the first baseball coach in Missouri history to win state championships at three different schools.

But his years at Blair Oaks remain special.

“Blair Oaks was really the one place I was able to coach the style I felt was best suited to be successful,” Ash said. “The leadership of Superintendent Dr. Jim Jones, our administration, and teachers really allowed me to make mistakes while supporting our program through those tougher times.

“The parents also supported what we were doing and expected us to coach their sons hard and demand the best from each of them. The players ultimately created the winning culture, and I was a beneficiary of the support I had and the talent of each player. I have attended many weddings, held newborns, given advice, helped with jobs, gave an ear when they needed someone to listen. They have provided this for me as well, and many of them I can call my friends to this day.”